Surat is the second largest city in Gujarat.  Recent numbers show that the population is over 3 million.  The developing city is located on the southwest coast of Gujarat.  Because of its location, Surat has historically been a center of trade and industry.  Surat is surrounded by numerous villages.  These villagers often are of variable tribal classes.  As Surat is the largest city to these villages, many villagers migrate from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other states in search of work.  Because of such migration, Surat poses a linguistic issue similar to Mumbai. One can hear dialects of Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi while walking down the street.

Many of the cities throughout the slums of India have small clusters of huts located around a center.  Surat, however, poses different, long stretches of housing.  According to some sources, 29% of the population of Surat (i.e. about .9 million inhabitants) lives in slums. There are 289 recognized slum pockets distributed across the city with  265 municipal schools with a total student enrolment of 150,000.

Fortunately for the Surat population, the Surat Municipal Corporation plays a more active role than most municipal corporations in India.  Since the destructive plague in Surat in 1994, the corporation has stepped up its role in maintaining a clean and safe environment.  As the environment improved, analysts saw the health of the people drastically improve.  The corporation also ensures the proper functioning of hospitals throughout the area.  One of these hospitals is the New Civil Hospital of Surat.  The hospital has 1,050 beds and can support 1,500 patients.  About 60-70 new in-patients are registered daily.

The people of Surat, like those throughout India, contribute to the diversity and amazement of India.  In the people of India lies the true wealth of the country.  It is with these people that MedicIndia hopes to involve you.